The Young Master's Replacement Bride

Alzena is now sitting pensively in the campus hallway. In his hand was a piece of paper. Alzena was silent as her eyes stared blankly.

His chest felt tight. He must immediately find money to pay the UTK arrears.

"Is it possible for me to take a leave first? Where can I get this much money? Where can I find medicine for mother," muttered Zena.

He seemed to take a deep breath for a moment. Zena finally decided to take time off from college first.

Zena got up from her seat while glancing at the clock on her hand, "It's already 12 o'clock, I have to go home immediately. The Koh Acong stall must be busy."

Zena walked out of campus with unsteady steps. In her heart, Zena felt lonely because on the large campus, she didn't have any friends. Being a poor girl, Zena realized that she was unattractive to the people around her.

Initially Zena had worked while studying, but since her mother, Halimah, fell ill, her life began to decline. Apart from working, he also has to take care of all household needs and pay for college fees and his mother's needs.

This situation makes Zena always late and even in arrears in paying UTK. Zena went home using public transportation while thinking about how hard life was.

When he got home, he immediately changed clothes then visited his mother who was lying weak in the room.

"Mother, how was today?" Zena asked softly while hugging her mother.

"You're home, son?" Halimah replied.

"Yes, ma'am. Have you eaten?" Zena asked, trying to think of a way to solve their problem.

"Yes," answered Halimah briefly.

"Buk, I'm going to the Koh Acong kiosk now, OK," said Zena.

A feeling of worry appeared on Halimah's face, she said, "Be careful, son. I'm afraid, Koh Acong will mess with you."

However, with a glimmer of confidence remaining, Zena denied her mother's worries and said, "No way, Mom. I'll try to take care of myself." Even so, Zena didn't know why her mother always had that anxiety when she was close to Koh Acong.

Zena gently let go of her mother's warm embrace, holding back the emotion that was increasingly gripping her feelings. With determination, he immediately said goodbye and went to the Koh Acong kiosk to start working part time.

"Oh, is there something you want to deliver?" Zena asked as soon as she arrived at the kiosk with unbeatable enthusiasm.

"Yes. It's ready on the side. Don't forget, check the notes and items." Koh Acong reminded him firmly.

"Ready, Koh," answered Zena firmly, immediately turning around and making sure all the orders were correct.

With quick and agile steps, Zena started delivering customers' groceries using Koh Acong's old motorbike. He devoted all his energy to completing these tasks, until just before Maghrib arrived, finally all the orders were completed.

Accompanied by a cloud of evening smoke rising from Koh Acong's cigarette smoke above the kiosk display case, Zena approached Koh Acong gratefully, "Koh, that's all. Here are the motorbike keys," she said as she placed the motorbike keys on the display case.

Koh Acong looked deeply at Zena and asked, "How is Halimah? Is your mother okay?"

"Mother is good, Koh," answered Zena with a face full of love, trying to cover up her worry.

"Hopefully one day I can treat mother and make her recover completely," Zena thought to herself, remembering her mother's prayers which always encouraged her.

For some reason, when talking to Koh Acong, Zena felt very comfortable and relieved. Not without reason, from childhood until now Zena has felt a father's love only from the figure of Koh Acong.

Is this because throughout Zena's life she has always lacked a father figure, and Koh Acong was always there when Zena needed him?

"Halimah is sick again?" Koh Acong asked with a worried face.

"Ah, no Koh. Mom is fine. I hope she doesn't get sick again. Koh, it looks like I'm going on leave from college. I want to raise money for mom's medical expenses," answered Zena.

"You do your best," said Koh Acong wisely.

That night, they chatted while enjoying tea, feeling warm and familiar with each other. Without realizing it, it was time for evening prayers and the Koh Acong shop had to close. Zena decided to go home.

"Koh, let me go home first," said Zena.

"Hey, here's pocket money. For you and Halimah, buy meatballs," said Koh Acong with a gentle face.

Koh Acong handed Zena a green bill, which immediately glowed. Zena felt happy as if it were beyond measure.

"Wow, I can buy mom a delicious dinner," muttered Zena with a big smile.

Hearing Zena's words, Koh Acong also laughed out loud. That's the feeling of comfort, relief and happiness that Zena always feels when she is with Koh Acong. At least, there are people who care about him and his mother even though they are not related by blood.

Zena went home feeling happy. When he got home, he immediately washed his feet and hands in the bathroom at the back of the house. After that, he met his mother in the room.

"Mother. What do you want to eat tonight?" Zena asked kindly.

Halimah, who had closed her eyes, immediately opened her eyes slowly.

"Zena, I'm not hungry. You eat first," said Halimah, lying.

Actually, now he is slumped and helpless. Halimah feels very down right now. Only Zena is always beside him.

"Okay, let's make it quick, let's just buy Javanese bakmi ahead," said Zena enthusiastically.

"It's up to you, son," said Halimah.

Zena immediately turned around and walked towards the Bakmi Jowo stall in front of her house.

Meanwhile, Halimah looked gloomy. He was remembering his very painful love story. That's the main factor that made him the success he is today.

"Mas, if we were together, it wouldn't be like this," muttered Halimah.

Halimah was hit by a stroke, and she couldn't even do anything alone. He could only shed tears.

So, in the morning, Zena prepared all the food beside the bed, there was a small table that was used to store food. Meanwhile, to defecate, Halimah always uses adult-sized diapers.

Meanwhile, Zena was turning around because she had already bought dinner for her and her mother. Even if it's just a plate of fried rice for two.

When Zena came home, she immediately took cutlery to eat together with her mother.

"Mother, let's eat first," said Zena enthusiastically as she opened the package of fried rice.

He also painstakingly fed spoonful after spoonful of g to his mother. Halimah also felt very happy to be treated in such a way as her own daughter.

"How lucky, I have Zena. Even though I had to lose her father, I am still grateful that I have Zena with me," thought Halimah as she enjoyed bite after bite that Zena gave her.

Zena finally decided to take time off from college. Now he can focus on working at the Koh Acong kiosk from morning to evening. Like that day, Zena was enthusiastic about working.

Zena works very deftly and very actively. Until finally, at noon Zena went home as usual to feed Halimah.

"Koh, I'll go home first," said Zena.

"Oh, be careful," said Koh Acong

On the way home, Zena felt bad. He started to speed up his steps.

Zena ran home panting. For a moment she didn't pay attention to anything around her, Zena's thoughts were only focused on her mother who was at home, alone.

His anxiety was getting worse, "What is happening to Mother? Why does this feeling keep haunting me?" Zena thought.

As soon as she arrived home, without hesitation Zena walked quickly towards her mother's room.

His heart was pounding hard, it felt like there was a pressing wind bringing unwanted news. How shocked Zena was when she saw Mrs. Halimah's body lying pale and helpless on the bed.

"Mother... Oh God, what happened to Mother?" Zena shouted frantically, shaking Mrs. Halimah's body, trying to wake her up.

But there was no reaction from his mother. Panic increasingly overtook Zena, she immediately left the house to seek help from the nearest neighbor. Tears began to flow freely, indicating the fear and pain that Zena felt.

"Mother, Zena only has mother, don't go," he whispered to himself.

Not long after, Mrs. Halimah was taken to hospital with the help of neighbors. On the way, Zena kept crying and begging her mother to be strong. Upon arrival at the hospital, Halimah's mother immediately received emergency treatment, while Zena waited anxiously, sitting cross-legged in front of the emergency room hallway.

His mind kept imagining the worst thing that could happen to his mother, hopes and fears chased each other in his heart.

Not long after, Koh Acong arrived at the scene. The man of Chinese descent had narrow eyes and a sturdy body, walking quickly towards Zena.

"Zena, how is your mother?" asked Koh Acong in a concerned tone.

Zena turned to Koh Acong, trying to hide the tears that were welling up in her eyes again.

"Koh, mother is being handled inside," answered Zena in a choked voice.

Koh Acong nodded.

"Okay, let's wait for the doctor to come out and tell us what happened to your mother," he said in a soft voice, trying to calm Zena.

Zena was only able to nod weakly, then the two of them sat down not too close. Zena felt awkward being around Koh Acong, but also felt grateful for the man's concern. Not long after, a doctor came out of the emergency room and was immediately confronted by Zena and Koh Acong.

"Doc, how is my mother?" Zena asked, feeling panic mixed with hope.

The doctor explained that Zena's mother had to undergo intensive treatment because she was suspected of having a heart attack. He suggested immediately installing a heart ring so that the condition did not get worse.

"How much does it cost to install a heart ring, doc?" Zena asked.

"For that, ask the administration department, you also have to complete the administration for the next few days. Because the patient must receive intensive care," said the doctor.

"Okay doc." Zena suddenly felt weak.

"Okay, then, I'll excuse myself," said the doctor.

Now Zena's body feels like she has no bones. He felt very weak. In his mind, where would he find money for his mother's care.

'Where else should I get money? Even now I have to search in very large quantities,' thought Zena, crying.

Koh Acong understood what Zena was thinking. He approached the girl who was gloomy and confused.

"Zen, for the maintenance costs for a few days, I will help you borrow it. Later, if you have money, you can replace the money with me," said Koh Acong.

"Seriously?" Zena asked.

Koh Acong smiled while nodding his head.

"Now we're going to administration. We're paying for Halimah's treatment. As for the cost of installing the ring, you can look for it slowly later." Acong rubbed Zena's shoulder gently to give strength to the girl who was always suffering.

"Why, why is Acong so good?" Zena asked.

"Ask Halimah. When she recovers," answered Koh Acong.

Now the two of them walked towards the administration counter. After paying some money for Halimah's treatment for the next few days, the two of them were sitting in the lobby.

"Koh, can I ask you a favor?" Zena asked doubtfully.

"What? Say."

"Koh, I'll leave mom for a moment. I'll look for money to pay for installing the ring. That's if Acong doesn't mind," Zena said hesitantly and started to look down.

"Okay, go. Oe will look after Halimah," said Koh Acong.

"Thank you, Koh," said Zena.

Koh Acong just nodded and smiled. He felt happy that he had been able to make the girl smile again. Zena left the hospital. He walked here and there erratically. He visited all the shops to ask about job vacancies. But all to no avail.

"Where else should I look?" Zena muttered.

Under the scorching hot sun, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He didn't care about his sweaty body anymore.

Zena saw a crowd of people filming a film.

"Shall I just ask what work there is?

"It seems like a lot of people are busy there," said Zena.

Zena walked towards the shooting location. There he saw everyone was very busy. He also approached one of the people who didn't seem very busy.

"Excuse me," said Zena.

"What's wrong? We're not accepting autographs. Our Helena is busy!" The man seemed to answer curtly.

"Is there a job opening for me?" Zena asked.

"Nothing. Go, go." Throw out the man named Edrik.

But suddenly Edrik couldn't believe what he saw. 'Lena? Is he undercover? That face is very similar to Helena's.' thought Edrik.

Edrik immediately rushed into the make-up room to confirm his vision.

"Lena. Have you been here since?" Endik asked.

"Yes. Make up isn't finished yet. Why?" Helena asked.

"Noting," replied Edrik confused.

Edrik left the make-up tent again. He looked around again, looking for Zena's whereabouts. But he couldn't find a girl whose face was very similar to the star.

"Could it be that I'm hallucinating?" Endrik asked.

He shook his head again, trying to continue the activities he had put off.

Meanwhile, Zena was sitting on the sidewalk not far from the shooting location. From a distance you can see a grandmother crossing the road. However, from another direction there was a motorbike speeding towards the grandmother.

"Grandma. Watch out for the motorbike!" Zena immediately shouted.

Zena immediately ran to avoid an accident. Luckily, Zena managed to save the grandmother. However, both of them fell, Zena's hand was hit by the hot and sharp asphalt.

"Ao..." Zena screamed in pain.

"Son, are you okay? Sorry, grandma wasn't careful," said the grandmother.

Zena tried to get up from her fall. He seemed to grimace and hold his hand which felt very sore.

"It's okay, Grandma. Is Grandma hurt?" Zena asked while observing the grandmother's feet and hands.

"Thank God, grandma is okay. Your hand was injured," said grandma.

The motorcyclist immediately started his motorbike again, leaving the two of them behind. Meanwhile, Zena and the grandmother moved to sit on the edge of the garden. The grandmother seemed to be observing the wound on Zena's hand.

"This must really hurt," said the grandmother while blowing on Zena's wound.

"It doesn't matter, Grandma. Who are you with Grandma here? Where are you going?" Zena asked.

"I was with my driver, he was there," said Grandma.

"It's safe, Grandma. Then, I have to go back, Grandma. Is it okay if my grandmother stays?" Zena asked.

"Where are you going, kid?" Grandma asked.

But before Zena had time to answer, she had already turned around and left Grandma again.

From a distance, the grandmother's private driver could be seen running hastily. Alex, the driver, had already passed Zena. But his eyes seemed unable to move away from Zena who was grimacing in pain.

"Lex, do you know who that girl is?" Grandma asked.